Sesame Streetis now in search of a new distribution partner. Running since 1969, the series has aired over 3,000 episodes throughout 54 seasons. Characters from the show are also known for their variousMuppetsmoviesand specials, which have aired both theatrically and on TV over the years. Key characters from the series include Big Bird, Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, and more. The firstSesame Streetdistributorwas the National Educational Television Network (NET).
PerThe Hollywood Reporter,SesameStreetis now in search of a new distribution home.Warner Bros. Discovery has opted not to renew its dealwith HBO and Max to put out new episodes. Max will continue to license and host existing episodes ofSesame Streetwithin its library. A representative from Max said that the decision stemmed down to anincreased brand focus on “stories for adults and families,“puttingSesame Streetoutside its current scope. ASesame Workshopspokesperson said that the show will be “announcing [their] new distribution plans in the coming months.” Check out the full quotes below:
Max Spokesperson: It has been a wonderful, creative experience working with everyone atSesame Streeton the iconic children’s series and we are thrilled to be able to keep some of the library series on Max in the U.S.. As we’ve launched Max though and based on consumer usage and feedback, we’ve had to prioritize our focus on stories for adults and families, and so new episodes fromSesame Street, at this time, are not as core to our strategy.
Sesame Workshop Spokesperson: We are excited to extend our 10-year partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, keepingSesame Street’s iconic library available on Max through 2027. We will continue to invest in our best-in-class programming and look forward to announcing our new distribution plans in the coming months, ensuring thatSesame Streetreaches as many children as possible for generations to come.
What This Means For Sesame Street
The Program Worked With HBO Since 2016
A change in distributor is not the only shift thatSesame Streethas undergone in the past several years. Last year, it was announced that the educational serieswould get a major creative overhaul starting with season 56. This would see the series shift from magazine-style, segment-focused episodes to narrative-driven work forSesame Streetcharacters. The new style was set to debut in 2025 with the release of season 56, so it is unclear how this move will affect this creative change.
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Before the Warner Bros. announcement,Sesame Streethad been airing on HBO since 2016. TheSesame Streetepisodes also aired on its former host, PBS, a few months after they were on HBO, in order to maximize the accessibility of the programming. In 2019, the companies made a five-year deal that would move the series to HBO Max and Max. Because of the longevity of this relationship, ending the output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery will result in a big strategy shift forSesame Street. This also doesn’t come as a surprise giventhat nearly 200 episodes were removed from Max two years ago.
Our Take On The Sesame Street News
Sesame Street’s Distribution Will Gain Interest
Though the ending of this deal could be disappointing toSesame Street, the show is now one of the biggest free agents. The show has been running for so many decades, and thus already has an existing fan base to work off of. This could make the series an appealing product for other major streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video. Over the next few months, I would not be surprised to seeSesame Streetenter a bidding war over these rights.
Sesame Street
Cast
One of the longest-running children’s television shows in the world, Sesame Street premiered in 1969 and is still airing episodes to this day. The show uses puppetry (courtesy of Jim Hensen’s Muppets), animation, and live-action to bring a series of educational segments to children, always keeping a comedic, heartfelt tone.
